The young rich ruler had no such hidden agenda, he was sincere in his request.

Q. What can we infer from his question about eternal life to Jesus?

He presumed that there is an ‘eternal life’ and it is worth receiving or inheriting!

Jews always believed that one can be justified and saved through their works according to the Law. So, he assumed that he can do something to inherit the eternal life.

He was sincerely following all the commandments form childhood (according to him), but he still wanted to be assured of his destiny.

There is a deep conviction in all of us, that there is an eternal life; and it is to be greatly desired. King Solomon has put it in Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes 3:11:”He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

Q. How did he address to Jesus?

He called him, a “good” teacher/master. It was a common title used by the Jews to call their religious leaders or teachers, meaning – “most excellent”. The expression (‘Good’) was used to show the reverence or respect to the teacher.

Q. What did Jesus answer?

First, he dealt with his address, “why do you call me good?”. In Matthew, the question is little different from Mark and Luke, “Why do you ask me about what is good?”

Jesus’ intention was not to deny his divinity. Jesus was not saying, “I am not God, so don’t call me good, which applies only to God!” (Many people, especially Muslim scholars, have falsely used this verse to disprove Jesus’ divinity.)

Secondly, he did not intend to say that everything else is bad or evil, and one should not use word “good” except for God!

His intention was to raise the standard with which God measures ‘goodness’. This was not the only time, he raised the bar. In his sermon on the mount, he told his audience, that according to God’s standard, even an anger could be as grievous as murder and lustful eyes are as sinful as adultery. God judges not only by the external actions, but the motives and intent of heart also. (Matthew 5:21,22,27,28) Our standard of goodness falls far shorter than absolute Good, God is and desires.

The rich ruler was convinced that he had followed the Law from his childhood, but in a moment, Jesus showed him that he was guilty of Greed. (Exodus 20:17). He loved money more than following God, and in that sense, he was guilty of breaking the first of ten commandments. (Exodus 20:3 – “You shall have no other gods before me.”)

Q. What was man’s response?

He went away sad. He choose to hold on to his earthly treasures and security.

(I strongly believe that Jesus was testing his heart, and if he would have repented for his love for money and failures, Jesus would have accepted him.)

He had a choice to accept his shortcomings, but he rather decided to went away, sad.

Life Applications:

So often, when we read this passage of Jesus and the rich young ruler and we ask ourselves, “does Jesus require such a strict call for all the Christians?” We often try to lessen the demands and cost of christian discipleship. But this was not the only time, Jesus asked his disciples for such radical call. in New Testament, we find numerous accounts of people leaving all behind, for following Jesus.

Related Bible Studies:

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The Scribes Questions Jesus’ Authority – Mark 11: 27-33 How do you respond when you are confronted with the question about your personal belief? This gospel bible study lesson presents Jesus' response when His authority was questioned by the High priests and the teachers of the Law in the...

Guest of A Sinner – Story of Jesus and Zacchaeus Bible Study on the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, the tax collector at Jericho in Luke 19:1-10 - Zacchaeus means 'Clean, Pure'. But he was one of the most corrupted man in Jericho. This bible study portrays a powerful picture...

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He’s asking me to lay down my life for the brethren.. To lose one’s live is to gain it.. To die is gain. Hallelujah! Lord, give me strength to choose you over worldly/fleshly desires. Help me die.. Pour me out.. Break my legs like a sheep that is straying away.. Then fill this cup with your Spirit.. In Jesus name, amen!

I feel like it is so easy to be blinded by worldly things and desires. I think my hardest challenge is separating what blinds my faith and pursuit of faith, and what brings me closer to God. I need to have more simple approach and always ask myself before making a decision, “Does this action bring me closer to God and help release me from any other desires than pursing my faith?”

You have to get rid of anything that does not strengthen your faith and bring you closer to God.

God give me the strength and trust to remove all earthly things in my life, and focus on directing everything I do or say towards the pursuit of my faith and glorification of God. Please guide me to act like Peter, Andrew, Zacchaeus, and all the first Christians. Make everything I do a way to give myself to you, and cut off the unGodly things that exist or present themselves in my life.

I am a man of God and can’t seem to answer a friends question.
Why would God allow 26 children and teachers die at the hands of a gunman? I know that we were give free will but, I am troubled with this.

In your second question:What can we infer from his question about eternal life to Jesus?
You state:yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end
I believe that the end you are talking about is when Jesus returns to this earth, for with God, there is no end.
I have recently found your Bible Study Guide and have enjoyed it immensely. Thank you.

[…] signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. […]

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